Kerala
Alleppey (Alappuzha)
Houseboats, canals and rice fields below sea level
- Suggested trip
- 2 days, 1 night on the water
- Suited to
- couples; families
In 30 seconds
- Ideal length
- 2 days, 1 night on the water
- Best time
- November to February for cooler weather and calm water. September and October are green and quieter.
- Good for
- Honeymoon, Couple, Family, Friends / Group
- Popular from
- Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi
Alleppey (Alappuzha): Alleppey Backwaters
Photo 1 of 4
Getting there
- From Kochi
- Approx 55 km, 1.5 to 2 hours by road
- Nearest airport
- Kochi (Cochin International), about 80 km
- By train
- Alappuzha station is on the Kerala coastal line
- From Munnar
- Approx 170 km, 4 to 4.5 hours
Make the route work for you
Before you choose Alleppey (Alappuzha)
- Who this idea suits
- Honeymoon, Couple, Family, Friends / Group. Travelling with children, elders or anyone with mobility needs? Tell us and we set the daily pace around them.
- Allow for your departure city
- Fly into Kochi and drive about an hour and a half, or take a train to Alappuzha on the coastal line. Houseboats usually board at the jetty around midday. Travel estimates vary with your actual starting point, traffic and operating conditions.
What should my written quote confirm?
- Property name, room category and meal plan
- Vehicle type, pickup point and arrival/return times
- Total cost, taxes, inclusions and optional extras
- Availability, payment schedule and cancellation terms
About this trip
Alleppey, officially Alappuzha, is the gateway to the Kerala backwaters: a web of canals, lagoons and the Vembanad lake lined with coconut palms. The usual way to see it is a kettuvallam, a traditional rice boat converted into a houseboat, for one night.
Read more about Alleppey (Alappuzha)
The area behind the town, Kuttanad, is a rare place where rice is grown below sea level, and the cruise passes villages, paddy and canal-side life that you cannot see from a road.
How to reach: Fly into Kochi and drive about an hour and a half, or take a train to Alappuzha on the coastal line. Houseboats usually board at the jetty around midday.
The Reality Check
When not to go:June to August, when heavy monsoon rain can limit houseboat cruising and views
- Houseboat prices change a lot with cabin count, air conditioning and season, so compare like for like
- Food and fuel for the boat are sometimes quoted separately, so confirm what the rate includes
Trip highlights
- An overnight houseboat cruise on the backwaters
- Canoe or shikara rides into narrow village canals
- Kuttanad paddy fields, farmed below sea level
- Alappuzha beach and the old lighthouse
- Kumarakom and the Vembanad lake for birdlife nearby
Did you know?
Parts of Kuttanad, behind Alleppey, are farmed below sea level, and the paddy there is held back from the backwater by earthen bunds.
Alleppey (Alappuzha) is famous for
Things to actually do here
Overnight houseboat
A converted rice boat with a crew and a cook, moored beside a village bank for the night.
Canoe through the village canals
Smaller boats reach canals too narrow for a houseboat, usually in the morning.
Alappuzha beach
A long public beach and an old pier, best at sunset.
Kumarakom
A lake-side area north of Alleppey, known for its bird sanctuary.
Sample itinerary
A starting point, not a confirmed booking. Changes depend on dates, access and availability.
3 day plan with Kumarakom
Adds a lake-side stay before or after the houseboat night.
5 day Kerala plan
Munnar's tea hills, then the backwaters, then Kochi.
What's typically included
- Stay in hand-picked hotels or homestays for your group size
- Private or shared transport as per your plan
- Daily breakfast (more meals available on request)
- Sightseeing and activities as per itinerary
- A single Gozy Trips point of contact from booking to return
What's not included
- Flights or train tickets to the base city, unless added to your plan
- Personal expenses, tips and anything outside the listed itinerary
- Adventure activities not included in the base package (available as add-ons)
- Travel insurance
- Anything not explicitly listed as included on your final quote
Price depends on your dates, hotel category, group size and how much transport you need. Send us your plan for a real quote.
- Itemised quoteEvery quote is itemised: the hotel and room type for each night, the vehicle, and which meals are included, so you can compare it line by line.
- Second opinion on any quoteAlready have a quote from another agency? Send it and we will tell you whether we can do the same trip for less. If we cannot, we will say so.
